Just be sure to place the heater several feet away from your plants to prevent damage. To prevent unexpected plant death, you may want to research the tropical plants you wish to save. Also, ask where to plant and how to care for a plant before you purchase it. Research source Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. We don’t have harsh winters but it can get down to single digits occasionally. Even an old blanket, carefully wrapped around a plant, can work as a frost cover. Keeping plants alive indoors can prove next to impossible to some, but it really isn't all that hard to do. Put the plant on a tray full of pebbles and fill it with water to just beneath the bottom of the pot, group plants together, and consider adding a humidifier to the room. Or get a desktop humidifier to direct moist air toward plants. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Protective barriers - Keep the snow, wind and ice off your plants with protective barriers. This also helps keep pets away. Set your calendar reminders and just do it. Be careful your cover doesn't crush the plant. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. A frost could easy kill a tropical plant. When I would bring my Tropic Escape hibiscus in for winter, I ended up watering it about once a week or so. Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Water and humidity are the next issues. : Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) trees are great patio plants with showy flowers. Image via A Beautiful Mess. Plant collections are the new cool. ... Perennials fit the adage of working smarter, not harder. The ideal winter environment for most flowering tropical plants would be approximately 50 degrees at night and 65 degrees during the day. But I must be honest, what is a gardener to do with you as the days get shorter and the nights cooler? Keep this in mind and take the necessary steps and you’ll have an indoor garden that lasts. Consider potted plants that can ride out winter indoors: An easy way to keep warm weather plants around is by leaving them in planters and then simply bringing them inside once the temperature drops too low outdoors. Spread out regrowing material in containers with good ventilation, like milk or bread crates. Winter can certainly be hard on plants. Deserts are cold at night! And, feed less often. Ease the stress by learning the basics of how to take care of indoor plants in winter. Maybe you have pruned a few plants and even propagated new baby plants. It is generally not a good idea to transplant a tropical plant back into the ground, as you will need to remove it again next winter. But, before you haul them indoors, make sure they’re safe for the pets and kiddos in your life. The Biggest Challenges in Winter Houseplant Care. Every month, check your regrowing material. Gather all tubers, bulbs, and corms. There’s no denying that winter reveals our garden’s success stories. You can even bury them, pot and all. Plants that are already potted can be moved directly to their hibernating location. And if possible, keep it where winter temperatures drop to about 50 degrees but not below the mid-40s. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid8307933-v4-728px-Overwinter-Tropical-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/over-wintering-non-hardy-and-tropical-plants/, http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/how-to-overwinter-tender-plants/5019.html, http://www.gardensalive.com/product/bring-in-your-pepper-plants/you_bet_your_garden, http://www.pennington.com/resources/fertilizer/gardening/recovering-from-root-rot, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/home-garden/Learn-to-take-care-of-indoor-plants/articleshow/18087275.cms, http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/03/nyregion/cuttings-when-house-plants-are-growing-too-large.html, http://www.thegardenhelper.com/repotting.html, http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/beginners-guide-overwintering, http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/node/15846, http://www.pennlive.com/gardening/2016/04/not-dead_plants_soil_secrets_l.html, http://extension.illinois.edu/gardenerscorner/issue_03/Fall_03_03.cfm, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Watering is needed, but not too much or too often. Before you bring your houseplants indoors for the winter, dislodge loose leaves or potential stowaway insects with a strong spray of water from the garden hose. The ideal daytime temperature for plants ranges between 65-75 F (18-23 C), and the night temperature of 55-65 F (13-18 C). Keep your plant in the same location. Keep the soil of your plants moist, but not wet. Danielle Ernest: The definition of over-wintering means to care for a plant (annual or tropical) that typically doesn't make it through the winters in your zone by bringing that plant into your home - living area, basement, garage - to keep it alive from year to year. Keep your plants safe from the temperature below 50 F (10 C) as it can be harmful to them. Plant protection in winter can take many forms: you can warm the soil, you can wrap a shrub, you can block the wind. Plant them directly in the ground. For indoor plants, fertilize in the spring and summer. bloom for next year. Summer temperatures should be 70 to 85 degrees, although gardenias tolerate hotter days. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. I am hoping this will work with Gardenia. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. All Rights Reserved. Plants are like cats — some stay indoors while others go out, depending on the weather. Adjust Your Watering Routine . Tropical hibiscus, jasmine, bougainvillea and small citrus trees will do quite well indoors if they’re in a bright spot where temperatures are at least 60 degrees. This is essentially a piece of fabric used to completely cover and protect plants from cold damage. Well, lo and behold, I actually have a green thumb. For indoor gardeners who want plants to keep growing and even flowering this time of year, artificial light may be the answer. Having plants around your home is great all year round. Whenever you connect with nature, connect with us! These can stay outside a little longer to take full advantage of the sunlight. If possible, try to mimic the temperature and conditions … Thank you. Much easier outside than in, right? Inspect the plant carefully for any insects. Plant them directly in the ground. This was the first year we have had it and not through winter. With bare branches and the absence of blooms, we can’t help but notice the shapes and silhouettes in our landscape. Summer temperatures should be 70 to 85 degrees, although gardenias tolerate hotter days. General light classifications are low, medium, and bright. 2. For some, it’s nice to apply a product known as leaf shine. If you water more than this, you may damage the roots. Talk to the people at your favorite nursery about what to expect from a plant during winters in your area. Care for your plants according to a consistent schedule. Tips on how to keep your tropical houseplants happy over the winter and also how I overwintered my tropical garden plants. How to keep your indoor plants alive through the winter 1. your own Pins on Pinterest No worries. Monrovia reserves the right to remove comments deemed offensive, vulgar or inappropriate at any time without explanation. Shorter days, limited light and changes in temperature are just some of the challenges to overcome. So light is a necessity if you intend to keep your tropicals alive and actively growing all winter. Ease the stress by learning the basics of how to take care of indoor plants in winter. What about a greenhouse for tropicals? Keep tropical hibiscus in a cool, dark location where the temperature remains near 50 F, such as an unheated garage or a basement. Some of your regrowing material may not sprout. Plants should be sprayed with soapy water (5mL dish soap – not detergent – to 1 L of water) before they are brought inside for the winter. Insect pests can be a problem from time to time on indoor plants. Add water to the height of the pebbles. Here is our guide on how to keep your indoor plants alive. Nothing adds a lovely tropical flare quite like a tropical hibiscus. However, these kinds of plants tend to be more sensitive to seasonal changes in temperature. Repot in a container that’s at least one (two is better) size up from the current one, use fresh potting soil, and make sure your container has a drainage hole. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,781 times. logging into shop.monrovia.com. After you put them in the ground, add a nice, thick layer of mulch for extra insulation. They also mentioned that some of you might want to move indoors for the winter. Anything below 50°F, and your plants will start to suffer. Prune off dead or unhealthy parts of the plant. In this situation, you may not have room in your home to store your plants. A bright, sunny, well heated room or a garden window can be an ideal place for this purpose. By: Lucinda Gunnin 21 September, 2017. Failing to do so can "shock" the plant, resulting in brittle, unhealthy, or dead foliage. Many tropical plants grow to quite large sizes. Enter your email and we'll email you instructions on how to reset your The ideal winter environment for most flowering tropical plants would be approximately 50 degrees at night and 65 degrees during the day. Choose a location to overwinter your plants. In a low-sided tray, place a shallow layer of pebbles. Always approachable. While watering is essential to your year round care for hibiscus, in the winter, you should only water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. Remove any rotting plants soon as any signs show. Water sparingly – about twice per month. Look for varieties and cultivars of plants suited to your climate. Use garden shears or a spade to cut stems to approximately 6" (15.2 cm) long. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Increase the light. Mealy bug, scale, aphids, and others all show up at the darndest times – like January (how do they do that?). The key to success with garage storage is that this area is attached to the house but not heated. PREV: Tips for Bringing Ferns Indoors for Winter, http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/, Beautiful Branches: Grow a room with a view, Long-Blooming Perennials for a More Beautiful Landscape. If you need one more reason to turn up the heat, your plants will stay alive longer in warmer weather. It was on a protected patio and temperatures only got down to 22 degrees. If possible, find a small spot in the garden or yard to relocate your plants temporarily for the winter. Credit: Getty Images . I’ve found that if these plants are watered every three to four weeks, depending on the … These may include coverings, keeping the plant in a pergola or gazebo, and wind breaks, such as fences or rows of shrubbery. But in the middle of winter, when the days are cold and gray, and the house is dry, your houseplants can have real trouble to survive. Like anything in this world, excessive amounts of any one thing is often a bad thing, even if that substance is necessary for survival. Keep your plants safe from the temperature below 50 F (10 C) as it can be harmful to them. Don’t be tempted to jack up the heat, as warmer air temperatures can lead to leggy growth and insect problems. The best way to keep indoor plants warm during the winter is to put them in a warm room, rather than one that gets cold. They should all be brought inside before the temperature gets too cold from them. It’s important. Your email address will not be published. I always thought I would have a brown thumb because my mom wasn’t very good at keeping plants alive. Remove and throw away rotten plant matter, and rejuvenate shriveled matter with a light mist of water. My favorite garden center tells me I didn’t name you and you’re not part of my family, so it’s okay to let some of you go to the compost with the frost. Make a humidity tray for plants to add moisture to the air. Often our heated homes become quite dry, which can cause plants to lose moisture quickly. Putting your plant in this kind of location will trick it into thinking it's still in its growing season. After planting, you'll have to care for your plant according to its needs. Tonkadale is a design driven garden center located in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Each plant will have its own ideal temperature range, but most kinds of tropical plant suffer damage when exposed to frost or temperatures below 50°F (10°C). If you have tight space constraints, you may want to lightly prune away large limbs or growths. An open letter to tropical plants and their owners: Thank you for being beautiful and flowery and leafy all summer long. Most plants prefer a daytime temperature between 65°F and 75°F, and a nighttime temperature between 60°F and 65°F. If you’ve used fiddle-leafed figs, crotons, pothos, philodendron, sansevieria, ivy, spider plant, or just about any other variety of plant prized for its leafy greens or golds, or reds or purples, re-pot and invite them to stay indoors for awhile. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. They deliver color, form, and texture you can count on in the garden. This article has been viewed 3,781 times.